EATING DISORDERS
The two most common
psychiatric eating disorders, bulimia
(purging) and anorexia nervosa (starving),
have become far more common in the last
decade. It is now estimated that ten percent
of all young women suffer from an eating
disorder. Boys and men also suffer from the
disorders, but in smaller numbers.
Both bulimia and anorexia
nervosa are characterized by having an
unhealthy preoccupation with food along with
a distorted body image. Most who have an
eating disorder tend to deny or hide the
fact that there is anything wrong. This can
make it especially challenging to diagnose
and treat.
Common symptoms of
anorexia nervosa include:
-
A high achiever at
school with low self esteem
-
Expressing a desire
to lose weight, even when thin
-
Aversion to eating
around other people
-
Fear of food
-
Desperately seeking
a sense of control
-
Exercising in
extreme amounts to lose weight
-
Depression
Common symptoms of bulimia
include:
-
Eating huge quantities of
food followed by vomiting or use of
laxatives
-
Severe weight
fluctuations
-
Extreme dieting followed
by binging
-
Spending long periods of
time in bathroom following a meal
-
Secrecy, hiding food
-
Dehydration
-
Tooth decay
With treatment, most teens
can overcome an eating disorder. Treatment
usually involves psychiatric therapy,
medication, and working with a nutritionist.
Early diagnosis and treatment of eating
disorders usually results in more positive
outcomes.
SMOKING
It is now common knowledge
that smoking can be bad for your health and
can lead to premature illness and death.
Almost everyone knows smoking can cause lung
cancer, the leading cancer killer in the
United States. Then, why do teens continue
to become addicted to smoking?
The answer lies in
nicotine, the addictive ingredient found in
cigarettes. Nicotine stimulates the feeling
of pleasure, acts as a stress reliever, and
works as an appetite suppressant.
Experimental smoking can rapidly lead to
addiction, and studies show that those who
start smoking before the age of 20 have a
much harder time quitting the habit.
According to the CDC, only one in ten
smokers successfully quit.
Therefore, there is no
safe amount of smoking. If you already
smoke, there is help available to stop.
Every year, over two million Americans quit
smoking. It is not easy, and it requires a
great deal of motivation, patience, and
strength. But, it can be done. For help to
stop smoking, contact the American Lung
Association at 1-800 586-4872.
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